09 Friday Mar 2018
Posted in Faith
http://www.espn.com/core/video/iframe?id=22638693&endcard=false
or
http://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=22638693
An interesting ESPN video about Coach Frank Martin, University of SC Basketball Coach and member of the Parish that my wife is the Director of Religious Education. Thought I would share it as an inspiration for all of us.
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All Along the Watchtower 
I get annoyed by the denial of miracles by extreme empiricists. The fact that there is no record of X does not mean that X has never happened at some point in history or cannot happen in the future. The proposition “Miracles cannot happen” if analytic is not contradictory, and if it is synthetic there is no way of verifying it a posteriori (of course, if one observes a bona fide miracle, this will falsify the proposition, since the existence of X presupposes that X is possible).
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Amen, Nicholas. And it has become fashionable for some priests (even Pope Francis) to say that the ‘real’ miracle of the feeding of the 5000 by the multiplication of loaves is really a miracle in sharing. I seems (though there is nothing in the Gospel to support it) that they think the ‘stingy’ Jews had hoards of food hidden in their cloaks and robes and that Jesus moved them so much that they decided to share their food with one another. Such silliness is appalling unChristian as they deny the plain words of the Gospel.
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Agreed. Frankly any priest or professor of the faith who openly denies the miracles of the Gospels should be viewed with suspicion. By this I mean all of the miracles. I am happy to accept that discussion of a given “miracle” might leave room for doubt if the text is in some way ambiguous or has been misinterpreted because of a lack of contextual knowledge – but this doesn’t apply to the feeding of the 5000. I worry if the Pope is (unintentionally) implying that this was not a miracle. Not as bad as denying the Resurrection, but still nothing to be cheerful about.
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And thus you see our predicament. He is spreading what the Jesuits (no surprise since he is a Jesuit) started jabbering about some 25 years ago. It has become so prevalent that at many parishes this is the homily that the parishioners receive when that part of the Gospel is read.
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You have my sympathy. This must be doubly worse if you apply to the bishop to have the priest removed and the bishop is unsympathetic. That is one of the downsides of rigid chains of command, if there are enough rotten apples in positions of power then you get conspiracies and negligence obstructing development of the troops – not good. If you’re aware of the problem, you can choose to ignore the bad teaching, but if you are a “babe in the woods”, you’ll be corrupted.
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Thus the spectacle of probably the worst educated Catholics the modern world has ever seen.
Actually, the funny thing about chains of command in a hierarchy: the problem today is that the ‘one voice’ of the Church was lost because they did not adjust their thinking to the hierarchy. After growing up in such disobedience they have now become the hierarchy and they demand (though their are many dissenters) obedience to their thinking. We now have a Church with bishop against bishop, priest against priest and some align themselves with the Church Teachings and others do not. I know which one’s I will follow and the ones I won’t . . . but many do not.
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Well, hopefully over time there will be a course correction and you’ll get enough orthodoxy back in important positions to restore faith in the one voice. Mixed signals help no one. For my part, I have contextual analysis to be a very important part of stability in my reading of Scripture: I ask myself how the original audience would have understood it, and if modern audiences don’t like it – tough.
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Indeed so. And from the Catholic Church’s standpoint it was the reason for Dogma to be held by everyone and defended by everyone. We now see a departure as they start hacking away bits and pieces of the faith. Take for instance the words of Bp. Fulton Sheen back in 1932: http://www.newsforcatholics.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Religion-Without-Dogma.pdf
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An interesting piece and, to be honest with you, I am not entirely sure what I make of it. On the one hand, I appreciate the argument that dogmas provide stability and free up the mind to enquire into other matters that have not yet been settled. On the other hand, I am so sceptical of human nature and history that I worry about bad dogmas being created, which cannot then be overturned (cf my views on stare decisis). This is one of the reasons why I have remained a Protestant rather than becoming a Catholic as has been my desire at times in my life. Of course, Protestants do actually have dogmas (e.g. belief in the Trinity), so perhaps my argument is not about dogmas so much as particular ones or the processes by which they are discovered, defined, decided, and promulgated. This is also why I like Lockean liberalism: if I don’t like a church, at least I can withdraw without being imprisoned or executed for it – and that is surely in everyone’s interest.
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I do understand your point but it is a matter of Fatih in the Lord’s own words: that He would not leave us as orphans, that He would send the Holy Spirit (the Paraclete) to enlighten the Church and teach you all things and the the Gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church. So I became Catholic, will stay Catholic even though men will try desperately to change the teachings and Truths that were codified from our understanding of the Apostolic Truths, the Old and New Testaments. Nothing that the Church has taught Dogmatically has bothered me in the least. What has bothered me are those who wish to lop off this teaching and replace it with another more in tune with modern morality and thinking. The list is short on Dogma but it affects even the smallest things in our lives . . . it informs and helps us to choose rightly in times of crisis and temptation. I find it not only useful but as necessary as the very air I breathe.
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I have a lot of respect for your position. Most of the dogmas are not a concern for me either, but I’m still working out what I really believe about salvation, which is why I purchased a book recently that deals with certain aspects of it. I’m part way through and enjoying it (although I don’t agree with all the conclusions).
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Salvation is, of course the whole point of Christianity. So if we get it wrong we REALLY go wrong. Christ came to offer salvation to mankind and we, by free will, can accept or deny it. We can obey His Commandments for our well being or disobey to our eternal loss. So for me, nothing is more important than to find that Church which He founded and promised to protect; that one that St. Paul calls the Mystical Body of Christ . . . a living presence of Christ among us to guide us safely to the other shore. Everything that Catholicism taught me convinced me to become Catholic though what we see today in the modern world often looks a lot different than the preceding 2 thousand years of holding fast to basics and organically developing that which was received. If it is not received but merely created then it is novel and rejected as the Church warned us to do. That is why when Pope Benedict XVI (Ratzinger) says the new Mass was novel because it was created by committee, I believe it to be a poor expression of the faith.
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I find it silly that because something has a natural explanation somehow voids it from being miraculous.
Furthermore, the skeptic, who often accuses of theist making god of the gaps argument, rely heavily on the science of the gaps.
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Also, maybe you guys can help me, the more I learn Thomism, the more skeptical I get that it argues at times for an impersonal God with God’s simplicity. And when they try to explain why in Scripture God has emotion, seems to change his mind, et al. It seems forced and unconvincing.
How I reconcile it, is that Thomism strength is its treatment of the first person of the Trinity.
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There is a mystery there which Thomas understood quite fully. God is completely happy in Himself and needs nothing. The mystery is that He loves us and would sacrifice His only begotten son for us and relates his nature to us in ways we can understand: emotions, love, sentimentalism. But I think it is the only human explanations that work for us who are not fully Divine. Both are true and God certainly works (another mystical idea about God) to bring us all to salvation. Usually it is angels and saints (esp. Mary) who does the work of God driven solely by the Will of God. At least this is how I see it. The love and sentiment are real just as much as the distance between God and human being is immeasurable because His Happiness is already infinite in measure.
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I think, once you get into the more philosophical areas of theology where you’re reasoning beyond what the text directly says, you have to accept a certain amount of mystery and be comfortable admitting that to yourself (and others). There is a lot of good work now explaining how the original audience would have understood and received a passage, but that only takes you so far. Transcendence is an important part of our concept of God, and humility and trust are important parts of our relationship with Him. That does not mean we should give up our pursuit of truth, but it means we should acknowledge limits: “My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts, says YHWH.”
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Hello Nicholas. Just curious……What’s with the YHWH stuff? God bless. Ginnyfree.
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Good brother Phillip, instead of worrying about Thomism, why don’t you ask Jesus to reveal himself to you.
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That’s easy Bosco, I see him every mass.
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Well, if that’s what you believe. next time you see him tell him Hi for me. Thanks. Its my understanding, from the mouth of jesus himself that if anyman say here is Christ or there is Christ believe it not. Well, that’s just what I understand.
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Also, I can’t believe ESPN made this video.
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Me neither . . . but they did.
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Yes, I believe in miracles. I am one. There have been several in my life and even one of healing of a physical malady. No, it wasn’t investigated by the Vatican, but it was a miracle. I have the MRI’s to prove it. I’ve also been blessed with many, many small “graces” that are simply part of my life as a Catholic. You know, things you don’t really think of a miraculous, but they are the direct intercession of a Saint. Now for the obvious – do I believe in or follow Jesus because of the miracles? No. I believe in and follow Jesus because He is who He says He is and I need Him. It was my need of Him that brought me to Him, not any works or His part or the preaching of another. Of course, it was a grace sent my way that helped me in the first instance to seek Him, that turning of my mind to my inner spaces to see my own lack. Another point – as Christians, we are supposed to believe in the miraculous. There are many miracles in the Old Testament and the New recorded for us. Many came to believe because of them. One other thing comes to mind regarding miracles. I wonder how folks can manage to deny them at all yet maintain that they believe in the Sacraments. They in and of themselves are miraculous happenings when you think about them. We do live in an age of miracles still. They’ve never ceased, nor will they till the end of time. God bless. Ginnyfree.
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Good to see you around again Ginny.
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Yeah, well, I was wonderin’ what was happenin’ round here and thought I’d stop by. This article BTW. I enjoyed watching the video. I’ve never heard the story before. I’m bettin’ the oriental nurse is probably a Chinese in a prison who’s grown in such holiness that she simply bilocates to do God’s works because she can’t in a prison cell. They get locked up and never leave the Communist prisons. I’ve read a bunch of stuff on them. Persecution accepted can and does lead to sanctity. One priest at the parish I came into the Church in was a freed priest from a Chinese prison. He once shared about serving Mass with one Host that lasted for over a month because he’d only use a tiny crumb each time. He used a thimble full of wine and tiny crumb and have daily Mass for a month. Those who brought him what he needed to do this if caught would’ve been shot dead or worse. It’s the “worse” part, the living in those prisons till death that is the hardest. I wished I gotten more of his story from him before I left there. He was crippled up from his time there in confinement and had to re-learn how to walk all over again. I don’t why I’m thinking of all that now. But the fact that an oriental nurse simply appeared, it reminded me of the bi-locations of St. Pio. It sounded eerily similar. God bless. Ginnyfree.
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PS I wish they’d add an ‘edit post’ button to this site. Obviously, I need one.
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Even when I’m the author of an article I can no longer edit mistakes in my comments either. I used to. I’m not sure what happened.
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I have a daughter who is a copy editor by profession. Don’t tell her how bad I type. She’d gag.
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I won’t. 🙂
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She doesn’t follow what I write about anymore anyway. She used to, but now she’s doesn’t need to kiss up to mom for nuthin’ sooooo…………………….boo hoo. I’m neglected.
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That’s alright, my kids don’t call me unless they need money or a favor. Today I heard from my daughter: she was out of gas and old dad had to get a can of gas and go to her rescue. I’ll see her again the next time she needs something.
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Good sister ginny, did you get my reply to your inquiry as to my commenting on other sites? The reason those other people sound like me is because they know the same Jesus. hes the same to all of the saved who know him. We don’t have to exchange notes or take a class in order to all be in one accord. yes, it is supernatural. And im glad you are taking note of it.
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Yes, Bozo, I got your reply. I just didn’t feel up to conversation of an enduring variety at the time. Go to Confession and Amend your life before it is too late. God bless. Ginnyfree.
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You’re probably thinking about it because of the betrayal of our Pope and Vatican of the Chinese Church.
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yes good sister ginny, I need to amend my life. But there is no confession booth where I fellowship. I just do it where ever I am at the moment.
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Cut the dodge lingo Bosco. You are a fallen away Catholic with an axe that you’ve been grinding all these years. You know exactly where a confessional can be found and what is required of you when and if you decide you’d really like to be absolved of your ten tons of mortal sins. God waits. Will you answer? You also know the Truth about the ordinary means for Baptised persons to be relieved of their burden of sins is to enter that dark portal seeking the Light you’ve left behind for a lifetime of meanness and spite. So cut the baloney talk. You don’t fool me. God bless. Ginnyfree.
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Well yes good sister, I know there are confession booths in the catholic roman temples. I just don’t feel any need to climb into one. You know how that goes. (;-D
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Well, then Bosco, while living you’ll remain a black sheep, lost and hopeless. But at the Last Judgement, you’ll be called a goat by Jesus Himself. Obviously a choice you’ve made and will abide by for as long as you live. A forced confession is no confession at all. God won’t make you confess sins to Him that you don’t believe are sins or ones you’re not sorry for. It takes at least simple contrition and an intention to amend what one confesses to. Your choice is a sad choice considering it will cost an eternity in a most uncomfortable place. But if you’re headed in the wrong direction, Bosco, God will allow a U-Turn this side of the daisies. God bless. Ginnyfree.
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Well good sister, everything you said is true. But how does that equate to a confession booth? I don’t go to roman temples unless there is free food. So there is no chance I will ever find myself enclosed in a box with a child molester.
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Religions.
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Here’s a quickie from the Denver Catholic – a man jumps from a fire and claims it was a miracle he wasn’t hurt, just shook up and sore. Others agree. http://denvercatholic.org/man-witnessed-jumping-denver-blaze-says-god-present/
God bless. Ginnyfree.
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Want to hear about a miracle? How about being born again. A new spirit is given to a person, one that was made in heaven and knows jesus. Well, you cant have been In heaven and not know the Lord. Then one is given this spirit and that one knows the Lord, and it happens in an instant. No classes or crakers or 7 things to do. One will be minding his or her own business and all of a sudden that one is changed. That is a miracle.
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Im glad good sister ginny asked about my commenting on other sites and about people who sound like me. We, those who have met the Lord, do sound the same, because we know the same person. On the other side of the coin there are the catholics. Im going to show a few of their comments. There Is nothing they wont say and their contempt for anyone who says they know the Lord personally is a testament to how their religion has stamped out a desire to know the Lord and other wacky wrong stuff like that.
“The first 400 years of Christianity was without a Bible, The Apostles preached the gospel that they learned directly from Jesus. and some of their writings and letters are found in the Bible because The Catholic Church put them their. Not God. ha ha ha ha ha”
This guy passes himself off as a devout know it all protestant hating catholic. It doesn’t matter to him that the jews had the old testament which is the bible. The new testament is contained in the old. That’s what I live about false religion people…they don’t let facts get in the way of a good lie. The same person goes on to say….
“But you failed Miserably to bring me a shred of evidence from the Bible about the validity of your Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide and asking Jesus into your heart to be your personal Lord and Savior BS.”
salvation from Christ is BS to him. Job well done catholic church. Good brother Chalcedon hits me with the same thing but he is kinder about it.
“Priests aren’t homosexuals neither nuns are lesbians. They live their life humbly in God.”
I guess this person never heard of the gay cabal inside the Vatican or those embarrassing wild homosexual parties regularly thrown in Rome and elsewhere, of Cardinal Pell or Cardinal Law. I have to cut this list short or ill be here til the end of time. They live their life humbly…like the second in command at the Vatican spending childrens hospital money on a lavish apt overlooking one of the more infamous gay nite clubs.
Here is a comment from a lady who used to be a nun, who the convent starved and worked to death. I invited her to my inviting site, and here is her reaction to it……
“Oh Wow, excellent site! You certainly nailed it. This is what the Bible calls a False Gospel, having a form of godliness but denying the power of God.
I’m an ex-Catholic myself. So many years wasted on believing their bulls&#t! They worship a Jewish woman and call it “God’s will.” And yeah Jesus is still a “baby” in Heaven needing to be carried around by His “eternal” mother who He has to consult for everything, because “He can deny her nothing” as the demented Catholics teach.”
She later goes on to say……
“You are right. The human need for affection will eventually turn Nuns into Lesbos. You cannot go against Human Nature. Yep and they spend all day kneeling before and praying to statues of Mary. They are demented” ” I will pass this on to my catholic friends. I want to offend as many as possible.”
She goes on in graphic detail of how the nuns are worshiping certain sexual parts of Mary…I don’t know more of the specifics, but its lesbian related. She ought to know, she was one of them til she read the bible and got sick of the CC.
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